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House Co-Sponsorship Memoranda
House of Representatives
Session of 2019 - 2020
Regular Session
MEMORANDUM
| Posted: | September 19, 2019 02:04 PM |
|---|---|
| From: | Representative Mike Zabel |
| To: | All House members |
| Subject: | Chlorpyrifos Ban |
| Chlorpyrifos is the most commonly used insecticide in the United States, with approximately six million pounds used across 10 million acres between 2009 and 2013. Exposure to chlorpyrifos can come from inhalation or ingestion and can have effects in humans similar to that of sarin gas. In high doses, exposure can lead to headaches, nausea, dizziness, confusion, vomiting, and abdominal pain. At extremely high levels of exposure, chlorpyrifos exposure can cause death in humans. Chlorpyrifos is also toxic to birds and extremely toxic to fish and bees. Because of the dangers of exposure to chlorpyrifos, it had been banned for residential uses since 2000 and was further restricted commercially until 2015, when the federal Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) recommended its complete ban. In 2017, soon after President Trump took office, the EPA reversed course, allowing for the continued usage of chlorpyrifos. To combat these reckless decisions, I will be introducing legislation that would prohibit the use of chlorpyrifos within the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. The dangers to children and other vulnerable citizens, as well as wildlife, is too great to continue to ignore. Please join me in supporting this important legislation. |
Introduced as HB2091